Frequently Asked Questions
The information provided on Signatory commitments comes from two sources:
- the FluoroCycle Guidelines 2010, the key document for the scheme that sets out how the scheme operates and the requirements that apply to applicants and Signatories, and
- the Signatory Manual that provides extra detail and helps businesses and organisations to understand what they need to do.
Where there is any discrepancy between these two documents, the FluoroCycle Guidelines 2010 take precedence.
Applicants
- First consider the advice
- Then decide whether your business or organisation is a Commercial User or a Facilitator.
- For a Commercial User
- For a Facilitator
- For a Commercial User
- For a Facilitator
- Contact the FluoroCycle Administrator
General
Quick Summary
FluoroCycle is a scheme that aims to increase the recycling of lamps that contain mercury and reduce the amount of mercury entering the environment.
To achieve this, FluoroCycle provides a national, voluntary scheme which businesses, government agencies and other organisations can join as Signatories. The scheme gives public recognition to Signatories for their commitment to recycling.
An Overview
Businesses and organisations can apply to participate in the scheme, receiving public recognition for becoming 'Signatories' and making a commitment to:
(a) recycle all their waste mercury-containing lamps, and/or (b) promote the scheme and its objective in other ways.
FluoroCycle is designed to:
- recruit Signatories to the scheme, and
- work directly with Signatories, and potential Signatories, to develop recycling programs for waste mercury-containing lamps that are appropriate to their business models
More Detail
FluoroCycle targets the users of commercial and public lighting because, between them, they account for approximately 90 per cent of all lighting waste. Lighting waste from these sectors is generated by:
- Public lighting (eg streets, roads and parks)
- Commercial and government buildings (eg office blocks and shopping malls)
- Industrial operations (eg mines, industrial facilities and warehouses), and
- Institutions (eg universities, hospitals, schools and sports venues).
Any business or other organisation can become a Signatory to FluoroCycle, provided they meet the scheme's requirements. All Signatories are required to make commitments to the scheme and these are different for different kinds of Signatories.
There are two groups of Signatories – Commercial Users and Facilitators.
- Commercial Users make a commitment to recycle all of their waste mercury-containing lamps.
- Facilitators make a commitment to promote the scheme.
There are two recycling companies in Australia with facilities that process mercury-containing lamps. One facility is in Sydney and one is in Melbourne.
Waste lamps need to be collected and transported to one of these facilities. Businesses and organisations should make arrangements with a waste collection company that can give assurance that the lamps they collect will eventually be delivered to one of the recycling facilities.
Many waste collection companies provide collection bins or boxes that are dedicated to waste mercury-containing lamps and can be installed at your premises. The Yellow Pages or the Internet will help you to identify the waste collection companies that operate in your area.
The key benefit is keeping mercury out of the environment, thereby enhancing the Signatory's reputation for being environmentally responsible.
A Signatory receives public recognition through:
- listing on the FluoroCycle website, including links to homepages
- a certificate acknowledging status, and
- use of the FluoroCycle logo and publications.